Wednesday, May 9, 2012

38 arrested for 'diamba' cultivation

(SIERRA LEONE) - The Trans-National Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) of the Sierra
Leone Police, with support from the Government of Ireland, launched an
operation code name ‘Desert Breeze’ at Mile 14 in the Tonko Limba
Chiefdom in the Kambia District, where over one hundred acres of
marijuana plantation were intercepted and 38 suspects arrested. Three
trucks loaded with cannabis sativa were taken as exhibit.

Report reaching this press states that the state of lawlessness came to
the limelight as community people mobilized to prevent the police from
going on with the operation.

According to report, the people succeeded
in mounting road blocks and also use traditional secret society
(gbangbani) to scare away the police.

Because of this spate of
lawlessness perpetrated by the people, the police were left with no
alternative but to fire tear gas canisters in order to prevent the
protesters from causing mayhem.

Sources confirmed that the ‘Diamba Cultivators’ succeeded in pelting
stones and bottles at the police as a form of vetting out their anger
against the force for exposing their dubious activities in the Tonko
Limba Chiefdom.
While the police were heading for the destination where the huge
consignment of diamba would have been burnt, report states that they
were attacked again by some lawless youths who laid ambushed police
vehicles on the high way.
The cultivation of marijuana in the Tonko Limba Chiefdom has become a
major source of livelihood for majority of inhabitants, especially
unemployed youths. It is like an industry where a community of village
investment in which every family or household has stake.

Despite the
several workshops conducted by Non-Governmental Organization like the
Wealth, Hunger Highlife (WHH) sensitizing community leaders and village
heads to deviate from the practice of cultivating marijuana and
concentrate on the cultivation of rice, cassava, potatoes, yam and other
essential crops, this was followed by the supply of seedlings and
farming equipment but to no avail.
The NSCCG (National Security Coordinating Group) has also embarked on
community outreach sensitization activities in various communities
across the country, preaching against the cultivation of cannabis sativa
in the interest of food security which is at the core of government
agenda for change. Yet, certain communities are still cultivating this
dangerous crop.

The cannabis farming has become a very lucrative
business, as one kilo of marijuana is about $50, whilst 50 kilo of rice
is about Le150, 000. The police conducted a cordon and search operation,
houses were searched, cannabis sativa were discovered in houses and
vehicles that were about to leave for the Republic of Guinea.
The 38 suspects are currently in police custody helping with the investigations.

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